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Noakes ready for Irish's opener

New fly-half signing Chris Noakes is expected to be fit for London Irish's season opener against Harlequins after arm surgery.

New fly-half signing Chris Noakes is expected to be fit for London Irish's season opener against Harlequins after arm surgery.

Noakes tore a biceps tendon on duty with Super Rugby outfit the Blues, but is due to land in the UK next week.

The 28-year-old however is well on the road to recovery, with Irish director of rugby Brian Smith stating that he should be in contention to face Harlequins at the Double Header should he participate in the Exiles warm-up fixtures.

Irish will face Montpellier, Bristol and Munster in pre-season in August.

“It's quite a common injury. There are players who have snapped biceps and haven't repaired them, but he's a young man and wants to have full functionality,” Smith told getReading.

“We had plenty of time and chose to have it repaired. It's not a big issue so he'll be back in light training initially and, start properly from the beginning of August.

“We're expecting he'll be fit and available for the first game.”

“For an injury like that there would normally be a graded return – 20-40 minutes in his first hit-out, with a view to playing 60 the next time.

“We wouldn't pick anyone in the Double Header if they haven't already had some warm-up games.”

Smith also declared a clean bill of health for some of Irish's other injury concerns, with Tom Court, Tom Homer, Halani Aulika and Tom Fowlie all fit and back in training ahead of the new campaign.